Man applying to be a substitute teacher previously arrested for spanking boys

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (WABC) -- A man applying to be a substitute teacher in Uniondale was actually previously convicted for spanking 13-year-old boys in Queens.

59-year-old William Rini was charged with offering a false instrument for filing, a felony. He appeared in court Thursday.

Rini applied for a substitute teacher position at the Uniondale Union Free School District.

But investigators learned that he was previously convicted of endangering the welfare of a child.

In 2003, when he worked at a Queens public school, he was charged with spanking four 13-year-old boys after school in his van using his hand or a brush. He also enlisted a fifth boy to offer $65 to try to get the other boys to lie to the principal about it.

Rini's teaching certificate was revoked following his conviction. He falsely represented himself on his application to the district.